Ch. 6, 7, 11, & 26 vocab

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citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders, and events

public opinion

basic principles that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events

values (or beliefs)

a cohensive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy about the role of government

political ideology

a specific preference on a particular issue

attitude (or opinions)

a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

equality of opportunity

freedom from government control

liberty

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

democracy

the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based on

political socalization

social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values

agencies of socialization

a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men

gender gap

people who support social and political reform; extensive governmental intervention in the economy; the expansion of federal social services; more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor, minorities, and women; and greater concern for consumers and the environment

liberals

people who support social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements. they believe that a large and powerful government pose a threat to citizens' freedom

conservatives

the ability to influence government and politics

political efficacy

the public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and complete

marketplace of ideas

scientific instruments for measuring public opinion

public-opinion polls

a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population

sample

a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent

probability sampling

a polling method in which responents are selected at random from a list of ten-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample

random digit dialing

polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied, which creates errors in overrepresenting or underrepresenting some opinions

selection bias

polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample

sample error

failure to identify the true distribution of opinion within a population because of errors such as ambiguous or poorly worded questions

measurement error

a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape respondent's question

push polling

attitudes and views that are especially important to the individual holding them

salient interests

the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not

illusion of saliency

a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

bandwagon effect

short snippets of information aimed at dramatizing a story rather than explaining its substantive meaning

sound bites

the requirement that broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public

equal time rule

a Federal Communication Commission regulation giving individuals the right to have the opportunity to respond to personal attacks made on radio or television broadcast

right of rebuttal

a Federal Communication Commission requirement for broadcasters who air programs on controversial issues to provide time for opposing views. The FCC ceased enforcing this doctrine in 1985

fairness doctrine

the power of the media to bring public attention to particular issues and problems

agenda setting

the power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted

framing

process of preparing the public to take a particular view of an event or political actor

priming

the theory that all interests are and should be free to complete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation

pluralism

individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies